Could adventure await? The National Geographic Adventure channel could come to South Africa in 2011 - and here's why.

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The wonderful National Geographic Adventure channel for South African viewers in 2011? Nothing is definite or confirmed about this National Geographic spin-off channel for South African pay TV audiences, but let me tell you why it's a possibility.

Different little puzzle pieces from various different sources that I've put together, makes for this following interesting story that I can tell you now. Let's start with the National Geographic Channel (DStv 260) currently on MultiChoice's DStv pay TV platform. The National Geographic Channel and its one spin-off Nat Geo Wild (DStv 261) focusing on wildlife programming, are currently exclusive to MultiChoice according to sources. Keep in mind that Fox has an ownership stake in these channels. More sources spilled to me that National Geographic Adventure has been offered to MultiChoice in the past, who declined to take the channel.

Cue to now. More sources tell me the National Geographic distributor contract is up for renegotiation next year in 2011. Keep in mind that On Digital Media (ODM) has an existing and growing multi-channel agreement with Fox and just also added the new Top Star Indian bouquet (also owned by News Corp). The ODM relationship with Fox is clearly growing and strengthening, making the future addition of more Fox channels obviously easier and the possibility more likely with each new News Corp addition.

A further source tells me some MultiChoice execs were not happy when told National Geographic Adventure might be offered to ODM and apparently cited the exclusivity agreement but was informed National Geographic Adventure is excluded and could possibly find a home elsewhere, unless MultiChoice (who already has two National Geographic channels) wants to include a third channel, similar to the four Discovery Networks International channels. I would guess that this issue would most likely come into play during next year's channels renegotiation discussions.

Which brings us to this. MultiChoice could possibly decide to add National Geographic Adventure as a third National Geographic channel. Maybe its somewhat doubtful giving DStv's current bandwidth ''limitations'' but National Geographic Adventure is a great (and youth schewing) channel in its own right and could even possibly be added by DStv just to keep it away from TopTV. Or, because of the existing Fox relationship, National Geographic Adventure could just go to TopTV. Who knows? It does seem as if National Geographic Adventure, currently seen in Africa already in countries such as Kenia could start an adventure in South Africa in 2011.